Matthew 13:18-23 - The Parable Of The Sower Interpreted

¹⁸ "You must listen closely then to the figure of the sower. ¹⁹ When anyone hears the teaching of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and robs him of the seed that has been sown in his mind. That is what was sown along the path. ²⁰ And what was sown upon the rocky soil means the man who hears the message and at once accepts it joyfully, ²¹ but it takes no real root in him, and lasts only a little while, and when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, he gives it up at once. ²² And what was sown among the thorns means the man who listens to the message, and then the worries of the time and the pleasure of being rich choke the message out, and it yields nothing. ²³ And what was sown in good ground means the man who listens to the message and understands it, and yields one a hundred, and another sixty, and another thirty-fold."

¹³ And Jesus said, "If you do not understand this figure, then how will you understand my other figures? ¹⁴ What the sower sows is the message. ¹⁵ The ones by the path are those into whose hearts the message falls, and as soon as they hear it Satan comes and carries off the message that has been sown in their hearts. ¹⁶ It is so too with the ones sown on the rocky ground; they gladly accept the message as soon as they hear it, ¹⁷ but it takes no real root in them and they last only a little while; then when trouble or persecution comes because of the message they give it up at once. ¹⁸ It is different with those sown among the thorns. They are people who listen to the message, ¹⁹ but the worries of the time and the pleasure of being rich and passions for other things creep in and choke the message out and it yields nothing. ²⁰ And the ones sown in good ground are the people who listen to the message and welcome it and yield thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold.

¹¹ This is what the figure means. The seed is God's message. ¹² The ones by the path are those who hear, and then the devil comes and carries off the message from their hearts, so that they may not believe it and be saved. ¹³ The ones on the rock are those who receive the message joyfully when they first hear it, but it takes no real root. They believe for a little while, and then in the time of trial they draw back. ¹⁴ And what falls among the thorns means those who listen and pass on, and the worries and wealth and pleasures of life stifle them and they yield nothing. ¹⁵ But the seed in the good soil means those who listen to the message and keep it in good, true hearts, and yield unfailingly.